Compare towns

Richmond vs Barnet vs Williston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richmond has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureRichmondBarnetWilliston
People
Population
4,159
1,855Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%
VT: +2.8%
-2.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.7±5.6Lowest
about the VT average
47.7±5.3Highest
11% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
Barnet and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±5
VT: 17.9%
21.6%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Barnet and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7
VT: 7%
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,235±$24kHighest
33% above VT
$67,386±$15kLowest
17% below VT
$106,967±$12k
32% above VT
Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$432,200±$39k
37% above VT
$247,900±$24kLowest
22% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$974±$72Lowest
21% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
$4,489Lowest
11% below VT
$5,592
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
Barnet and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% above VT
28 minHighest
17% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
22.5%±6.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±4.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #5 of 70 in VT — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.